Propeller guard and rudder device



Dec; 6, 1960 A. M. FESTER 2,963,000

PRQFELLER GUARD AND RUDDER DEVICE Filed March 4, 1959 INVENTOR. 5 Q1140: M FEsne-p A TT EA/E y United States Patent 'PROPELLER GUARD A ND RUDDER DEVICE Amos M. Foster, 7344 Sheridan 8., Richfield, Minn.

Filed Ma!- 4, 1959, Ser. No. 797,215

This invention relates to a combination propeller guard and rudder means and has special reference to guards for propellers of outboard motors or thfillkew An object of this invention is to provide an improved guard for use in protecting propellers from injury by any submerged materials or substances, such as rocks and stones, or logs and trees, and also to prevent interference with lines used in trolling or other fishing activities.

It is another object of this invention to provide a guard for outboard motor propellers which is so constructed to add the minimum amount of weight and drag consistent with full protection of the motor and propeller.

It is still another object of this invention to provide in a combination guard and rudder means with means for readily and quickly mounting it on an outboard motor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in a combination guard for the propeller of outboard motors and a rudder means which is designed to adequately control the boat in different boating maneuvers.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a guard for the propeller of an outboard motor wh.ch prevents the human body from coming into contact with such propellers thus preventing cutting and mutilation of persons in the water adjacent the boat.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and capabilities will become apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention. However, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form except as hereinafter described in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved combined propeller guard and rudder means mounted on the lower portion of an outboard motor body.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the combined propeller guard and rudder means as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation view of the rear of the combined guard and rudder device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, designates the 'lower portion of a conventional outboard motor, the propeller thereof being shown at 12. Above the propeller 12, the motor body is formed with the usual horizontal glider ribs 14, 14 and with the vertical trailing rib or vane 16. The body of the motor is likewise formed forwardly of the propeller 12 with the vertical leading rib 18.

The combined propeller guard and rudder means is designated generally at 20. The guard 24 comprises a relatively large open ended cylindrical body member of the same diameter throughout its length. The top of the body member 24 is formed with a longitudinal slot 26 extending its complete length for a purpose set forth hereinafter. A notch 28 is formed on the bottom of the body member 24 adjacent the front thereof receiving the lower end of the vertical leading rib 18 of the outboard motor for aiding in holding the outboard motor in proper position in the body member 24. I

The rudder means 20 also comprises a horizontal plate 32 which is of rectangular shape at its approximately rear one third as at 34, while the approximately front two thirds of the plate 32 is tapered as at 36 to a front point 38. The plate 32 is provided with a longitudinal slot 40 extending from its rear end to contiguous its front end 38. The upper ends 25 of the cylindrical member 24 are secured by appropriate means to the under side of the plate 32 intermediate the ends thereof thus aligning the slot 26 in the cylindrical member 24 with the slot 40 in the plate 32. Plate 32 is provided with a depending flange 42, 42 on the opposite sides at the rear one third 34 of plate 32.

-The body of outboard motor is moved into the slot 40 of plate 32 with the horizontal glider ribs 14 thereof engaging the top surface of the plate 32 contiguous the slot 40. The body of the outboard motor is moved to the front of the slot 40 and at such a position the pro peller 12 is axially disposed Within the cylindrical body 24, and the lower end of the vertical leading rib 18 is received in the notch 28 on the bottom of the member 24. The rear portions of the ribs 14 on the motor body are received into recess means 35 on the front of plate 32 formed by bent over flange means 37 thereof to aid in mounting the guard in the motor body.

A securing means 50 is provided with a notch 52 in its front end. The front portion of the ribs 14 fit into the notch 52 of the securing means 50 for aid in holding the propeller 12 of the motor within the member 24. The securing means 50 is seamed to top of the plate 32 by bolt and nut means 53. The securing means 50 is easily dismantled from the guard and rudder device so that the guard can be readily demounted from the outboard motor.

The cylindrical guard 24 protects the propeller 12 from being damaged by unknown objects in the water. The cylindrical guard 24 offers a minimum drag to the water so that the efiiciency of operation of the outboard motor is not materially reduced. The rear of plate 32 prevents the water thrust by the propeller 12 from rapidly rising to the surface of the water thus increasing the thrust of the propeller and reducing the turbulence created by the propeller.

The rudder device 20 which comprises the plate 32 and its depending flanges 42 tends to lift the boat upwards in the water thus providing a buoyancy to the boat and reducing the drag of the guard device 24 in the water. The flanges 42 in cooperation with the horizontal plate 32 aids in steering the boat more easily especially in turbulent waters at slow speeds.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being ind'cated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come with-n the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination propeller guard and rudder means for attachment to an outboard motor body provided with a propeller, the guard comprising an open ended cylindrical conduit member adapted to house said propeller axially therein, the top of said conduit member formed with a longitudinal slot for receiving a first portion of the motor body, a means formed on the bottom of the conduit member for receiving a second portion of the motor body, rudder means comprising a plate provided Patented Dec. 6, 1960 with spaced depending flanges mounted on the top of the conduit member, the plate of the rudder means provided with a longitudinal slotin alignment with the slot means in the conduit member for receiving the said first portion of the motor body, and means for detachably securing the rudder and guard means to the said first portion of the motor body.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical conduit is provided with the same diameter throughout its entire length.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flanges on the rudder means are spaced on the opposite edges of the plate.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for detachably securing the guard and rudder means to the first portion of the motor body comprises a bar means provided with a slot for receiving the said first portion of the motor body.

5'. In a device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rudder means comprises a horizontal plate which gradually tapers at its front end and the flanges are formed on the opposite sides contiguous its rear end.

6. In a combination propeller guard and rudder means for attachment to an outboard motor body provided with a propeller, the guard comprising a tubular member adapted to house said propeller axially therein, the top of said tubular member provided with a slot means for receiving a portion of the motor body, the rudder means comprising a plate provided with spaced depending flanges mounted on the top of the tubular member, the plate of the rudder means provided with a slot in alignment with the slot means in the said member for receiving the said portion of the motor body.

7. In a device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the flanges on the rudder means are formed on the opposite sides of the plate adjacent its rear end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,551,371 Grigg May 1, 1951 

